Rotating Arm Attenuator With Expandable Bands for Reusable Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attenuation devices lack adequate compression length, reusability, ventilation, and control over energy absorption, making them inefficient for high-impact applications and user comfort, especially in hot climates.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a base with a central axis, rotating arms connected by expandable bands that absorb energy through a significant compression length reduction, allowing for tunable energy absorption without replacing other apparatus components, and featuring a hollow structure for airflow and light weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional attenuation devices use internal springs, foams, or bladders to mitigate impacts, then they can absorb some energy, but they lack adequate compression length and reusability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mechanical structure with rotating arms and expandable bands that can reversibly deform and return to original position, enabling multiple reuse cycles while maintaining energy absorption capability. The living hinge mechanism allows the device to dynamically adapt to impact forces and recover.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes its physical parameters during operation - the compression length can be reduced by about 90% or more when force is applied, and the expandable bands expand to absorb energy. These parameter changes are reversible, enabling reusability while maintaining adequate compression length for energy absorption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If attenuation devices are designed with sufficient compression length for energy absorption, then they can effectively mitigate high-impact forces, but they occupy excessive packaging space
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes rotational motion of arms around a central axis and expansion/contraction of bands in a radial dimension, allowing significant compression length reduction (about 90% or more) along the axis direction while maintaining energy absorption capability through multi-dimensional deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical structure dynamically compresses to about 10% or less of its original length during impact, effectively reducing packaging space requirements while maintaining adequate compression length for energy absorption when deployed.
3Strength
If attenuation devices are made solid and dense for strength, then they can withstand high impacts, but they lack ventilation and cause user discomfort in hot climates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a hollow structure with internal voids that provide ventilation channels for airflow, allowing heat dissipation and improving user comfort in hot climates while maintaining structural strength through the rigid arm and base construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines rigid materials for the base and arms to provide structural strength with hollow/porous structural design for ventilation, creating a composite structure that simultaneously achieves impact resistance and thermal comfort.
4Device complexity
If attenuation devices use fixed energy absorption characteristics, then they are simple in design, but they cannot be tuned or optimized for specific applications
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows tuning of energy absorption characteristics by modifying parameters such as the number and configuration of arms, the properties of expandable bands, the geometry of the base, and the compression length reduction ratio (about 90% or more), enabling optimization for specific applications while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic mechanical structure with living hinges and expandable bands provides inherent tunability through geometric configuration rather than complex active control systems, allowing energy absorption to be optimized for different applications by adjusting the mechanical parameters of the passive structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device efficiently absorbs and attenuates energy by compressing up to 90% or more, optimizing packaging space, providing customizable energy absorption, and maintaining user comfort in various conditions, while allowing the larger substrate to be reused.
Implementation Method 1
one or more expandable bands connected with distal ends of the two or more arms and configured to absorb energy from rotating of the two or more arms
Implementation Method 2
The base, the two or more arms, or both may include a material which is rigid and capable of forming a living hinge
Data Source
AI summary
These teachings relate to a device that includes a base having an axis that is centered and perpendicular relative to the base and two or more arms each connected to the base at a base hinge The base hinge rotates the two or more arms away from the axis, and one or more expandable bands are connected with distal ends of the two or more arms. The one or more expandable bands absorb energy from rotating of the two or more arms. The device absorbs energy when an external force is applied along the axis of the base.